Oh my gods. It's been so long! I'm so sorry guys! But I'm back now, wisdom-teeth free and ready for the Superbowl. (Go Chiefs!) This is one of my longest chapters yet, if not the longest. And I think you'll like it! At least, I hope you'll like it. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen: The Choosing Of The Champions

Percy's POV:

It was hard. Protecting Harry, while at the same time trying not to get too attached. It was kind of like trying to eat an entire batch of blue cookies, without gaining five pounds. Practically impossible.

Percy usually tried not to think too much about deep stuff, but staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep, he couldn't help it. He was just going over everything in his head, trying to make sense of it all. The bit of prophecy Hecate had given him was playing on an endless loop. Neither can live while the other survives. It's not like he hadn't heard prophecies before, Hades, he'd been in at least eleven. But watching Harry live his life, with almost no idea what was coming, was torture. And he'd only known him about a week. This must have been what Annabeth felt like all those years that she thought he was going to die at 16.

Percy's brain hurt. He really wished that Annabeth were here; she'd know exactly what to do. But for now, it was just him. He had to give Harry credit though- he jumped into the lake to save that other boy, just like Percy did, although it didn't turn out too well. He was brave, and he had good friends. According to Dumbledore, Voldysnort had been trying to kill him for a while now, but he wasn't dead yet. He must've been pretty stubborn.

He looked over at Harry's bed, feeling sorry for him. He'd grew up with an absent dad, not a dead one. And he still had his mom. All Harry got was an overweight cousin and a cartoonishly villainous aunt and uncle.

As if on cue, Harry started yelling in his sleep. Percy sat up as fast as he could and jumped out of bed, trying not to trip on anything as he went over to him. He was holding a hand to his head, where his scar was.

"Hey, hey, calm down." Percy said, grabbing his shoulders. His eyes snapped open, and for a second, there was sheer terror in them. It scared him, and he didn't scare easily. But being scared also made him angry.

Percy swallowed down his emotions, at least for the moment. Harry sat up in his bed, shaking his head. He put his glasses on and leaned back against his headboard.

Percy got up and walked back to his own bed, sitting on the floor with his back to the mattress. They sat in silence for a while, until he broke it.

"What were you dreaming about?"

Harry shrugged, clasping his hands. "You probably wouldn't get it, you haven't been here long, and-"

"Try me," Percy said.

He looked at him warily. "Alright."

Harry glanced around, looking unsure of where to start. "It's usually the same. I'm… this man. It's an old man, and he's walking up the stairs of an old house. I can tell because the boards creak."

Percy nodded at him to go on.

"I get to a landing, and there's a door that's cracked open. I can hear voices. They're talking about the Cup, the Quidditch Cup." Harry closed his eyes, as if he were imagining himself back in the dream. His voice dropped to a whisper. "And now they're talking about me. Voldemort wants to kill me, he has a servant inside Hogwarts that he's going to use to kill me. Wormtail is there. He doesn't want to kill me, but he will."

Harry opened his eyes again and looked at him. "Then they kill him. The old man."

"That's a lot of killing," Percy said.

"That's not all," he replied.

"It changes now. It's different every time, but… there's a boy." He shook his head. "I never see his face. But ever since I started dreaming about him, my dreams are more real. Scary real."

Alarmed, Percy leaned forward. He'd thought Hecate wiped his memory, but Harry must've been a more powerful wizard than she thought. He was fighting it.

"When did those dreams start?" he asked, trying not to sound too interested.

Harry squinted, then said, "Actually, it was right after you got here."

Percy lowered his voice. "What happened in them?"

"Well, the first one started out as kind of choppy. There were just a bunch of things happening all at once. First, I saw a pine tree." Thalia's tree. "Then I saw a boy standing in a creek, with something glowing above his head." Me.

Harry kept going; describing different events in Percy's life. It was really weird, hearing everything he'd gone through during the Titan War compressed into a few sentences.

Then he stopped. "What happened next?" Percy asked quietly.

He hesitated. "Then… I was somewhere dark. It was hard to breathe. The ground was really sharp, and there was some kind of red fog."

He sucked in a breath. Harry saw Tartarus. How was that even possible?

Harry kept going. "There were some demons with wings. They called themselves The Curses." He was just staring at his bedspread, unwilling to meet Percy's eyes. "They said I wouldn't escape this time, that I'd pay for what I'd done. But they weren't talking to me. The guy from before, in my other dreams, he was behind me. They had his girlfriend. She was unconscious, bleeding from a head wound."

Percy remembered that dream. He had it a lot. It scared him every time.

"I don't know what happened next. I woke up, I think, but I don't remember what happened that night." Harry clenched his fists on top of his knees in frustration. "I had another one," he said through gritted teeth, "today. I was unconscious, I thought I was dead. But I woke up in this place… it was amazing. It was like here, but more dangerous. And with sword fighting."

He finally met Percy's eyes. "I got dragged into some kind of cabin. I saw a girl sleeping, and it was her, from my other dream. Annabeth."

Percy did not like what he was hearing. If he could get sucked into Harry's dreams, and Harry could get sucked into his dreams, then Harry would be able to figure out who he was. Hecate said that was against the rules. He hated the rules, but the more he followed them the faster he got to go home. So he had to find a way to stop Harry from dreaming about him. A way that didn't involve any of the gods. Or magic spells. Or acupuncture.

Harry continued, watching Percy's face for a reaction. "She was really scary. If you can die in a dream, she would almost have killed me." He resisted the urge to smile. "She didn't, though, and told me her name. I hardly had time to tell her mine before I woke up."

Harry locked eyes with him. "Something's happening to me," he whispered. "I keep forgetting things. Little things. I think I already knew you had a girlfriend before today. I know it wasn't a current that knocked me out in the lake. But every time I think about it-"

He gestured with his hands in exasperation. "I don't know. But it's bloody annoying."

Percy wasn't sure what to say other than, "I know the feeling."

Harry nodded, but he could tell it didn't help. He stood up and got back into bed, changing to subject to who he thought was stupid enough to put their names in the cup, minus the Weasley twins. They already knew they had screws loose.

Harry suggested a couple Gryffindors who'd been talking about it earlier, plus a very confident Slytherin and a few Ravenclaws. The conversation slowed after a while, though, and Percy stared at the dark ceiling until Harry stopped talking altogether.

The anger he'd felt when Harry first woke up washed over him again, making him grit his teeth and turn over on his side. He shut his eyes and concentrated, daring the magic goddess to bring him into her crazy dream-world again. And it worked.

The white light burned the inside of his eyelids, but Percy forced himself to keep them closed. He saw trees, grass, and the Disney landscape again.

He was standing in the same place as before, in a clearing with singing birds and stuff. "Can we just skip the theatrics this time?" he yelled at the sky.

Hecate materialized in front of him, looking very miffed.

"What, no weasel?" Percy asked. She glowered at him, and the air started to thicken. But she took a breath and didn't kill him on the spot.

"Do you require my assistance?" She asked emotionlessly. Percy crossed his arms.

"Look, lady. You're the one who kidnapped me and dropped me in Scotland, all by myself. YOU need MY help. Not the other way around."

Hecate opened her mouth to retort, and probably to smite him, but he held up a hand, tired of her games.

"Don't bother. We both know you can't kill me yet. Now listen, I have a bone to pick with you. First of all, can people at Hogwarts see through the mist or not? Some British monsters must've smelled me or something, and I still don't know if wizards can be hurt by Celestial Bronze."

Credit where credit was due; Hecate swallowed her pride and gave him a straight answer for once. "Most can. There is enough godly blood in their veins to allow for that, but certain wizards have clearer sight than others. They call themselves pure-bloods. The same concept applies with Celestial Bronze weapons. All will be affected by them, to different extents."

Well, as straight an answer as she can give.

Percy nodded, but he wasn't finished. "Second, your memory spell didn't work. Harry is more powerful than you thought, or maybe just more stubborn. Either way, he's starting to remember things, dreams mostly. But the gaps in his memory are hurting him. You've got to stop wiping his mind every time he learns something new about me."

Hecate nodded in grudging agreement. He just had one more thing to say. "Third." His eyes narrowed. "Was it your idea to put all of this on him? He's fourteen, and both his parents are dead. He lives with an abusive family who don't care whether he lives or dies, there's a prophecy about him having to defeat a wizard that everyone's afraid to even say the name of, and the weight of the world is on his shoulders." He reconsidered the last part. "Well, figuratively." He glared at the magic goddess.

She drew herself up haughtily, reverting back to her 'foolish-mortal-I-am-all-powerful' stance. "Of course not. I do not meddle with the Fates' decisions-"

"You created this whole world!" Percy interrupted. "What are you even talking about? The Fates wouldn't have anything to decide about if you hadn't done anything in the first place!"

Her eyes flashed, but he snorted before she could say anything. "You gods are all the same. You never think about how your actions impact the world. Do you know how much good you could do? How many problems you could fix, if you stopped farting around and creating problems for all your kids to worry about?"

She didn't answer, and Percy just nodded. "Yeah, I didn't think so. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a wizard to protect."


He woke up early, and watched the sun come up through the treetops as he changed. He made his way down the stairs quietly, since no one else was awake yet. Or so he thought.

The common room was empty, except for a girl sitting in one of the chairs by the fire. Percy walked over, and she glanced up. It was Hermione.

"Hey," he said, sitting down in the chair opposite her. "Hi," she replied, looking confused at why he was up so early.

"Couldn't go back to sleep." Percy explained, and she nodded, staring at the fire. They were quiet for a minute, until she looked up at him again.

"I never properly thanked you," she said. "You know, for saving Harry's life."

Percy smiled. "It wasn't a big deal. I was just in the right place at the right time."

She studied him critically, like Annabeth would if she knew he was lying. Thankfully, she didn't push it. "Well, thank you. I don't know what I would've done if…" she trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought.

"But it didn't," he said firmly. "And it won't. I promise."

She looked at him funny, but before she could speak, Ron and Harry came tromping down the stairs.

"Oh, hello." Harry said, surprised to see them both up. "Hey," Percy replied. The four of them made small talk until it was time for breakfast, when they headed through the portrait hole with Neville, Dean, and Seamus.

Later that day, he, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table eating lunch. The Great Hall was fairly empty, and there were no teachers in the room. Percy guessed everyone was enjoying the nice weather. A few minutes later, he wished he was too, because the Weasley twins were walking in the aisle between the tables, heading straight for the Goblet of Fire. Someone should've been guarding it, or something.

"Ready, Fred?"

"Ready, George."

"On three, then."

"One,"

"Two,"

"Three!" They said in unison, dumping the contents of two small vials into their mouths. Hermione shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe they actually went through with it." she said.

Ron had an exasperated look on his face. "I can."

Fred and George both grinned, and they stepped through the age line. They stood in the circle, smiling like madmen, and high-fived. That's when things started to go wrong. Their hair grew out, turning long and white. They got beards and stooped backs, then were blasted out of the circle. All anyone watching could do was laugh. Percy looked at Harry in the middle of a fit of giggles, remembering yesterday when they'd told the twins that the potion wouldn't work. He was apparently thinking the same thing, and neither of them could stop their hysterics for twenty minutes after that.

After Fred and George were safely in the hospital wing, the four of them went back to the common room, where Ron said he'd teach Percy to play something called Wizard's Chess.


"I don't get it," he said for the fifth time. All of his pieces started yelling at him, which he thought was unfair.

"Alright, alright, you lot," Ron scolded. The pieces quieted down, and he explained what all the numbers and letters meant, also for the fifth time.

"Just give it up, Ron," said Harry with a smirk. "He's almost as bad as Hermione."

He snickered as Hermione faked a hurt gasp, but then she hit him over the head with her book. He stopped making fun after that.

After another hour of struggling with the names of the pieces and the positions on the board, Hermione looked at the clock on the wall and announced that they should head down for dinner. It felt like they'd just eaten, but lunch had been late, so it was understandable. And Percy would never turn down free food.

They were met with excitement in the Great Hall. Tonight was the night, when the champions would be chosen. Unfortunately, none of them would be Fred or George, who were still in the hospital wing as eighty year-old men.

The noise was deafening; everyone was talking to their friends about who would be chosen. Even the Beauxbatons students were socializing. It seemed to take forever for Dumbledore to give his speech and make the food appear, but Percy was glad when he did. He was getting hungry.

"Tho," he asked with his mouth full. "Any latht minute beths?"

Hermione just stared at him, then looked at Ron for a translation. He swallowed. "'So, any last minute bets?'" he said, like it was obvious.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys," she said.

Harry shrugged in response to the question. "I dunno, maybe Angelina?"

Percy nodded thoughtfully. They discussed some others, passing the time until Dumbledore stood up again, causing lots of whispers and nervous talking among the older students. Percy thought he'd never reach the podium, he was walking so slowly.

Finally he did, and he seemed to sense the tension in the room. He drew on it, waving a hand at the floating candles to dim them. He didn't have to call for quiet, because the hall was already dead silent.

"Students," he said in a hushed voice. "The time has come. This week, if you were seventeen or older, you were given the opportunity to become the champion of your school. If you are chosen, you will compete in the greatest test of magic, bravery, and wits that there has ever been. The Triwizard Tournament!"

Dumbledore's voice rose at the end, causing cheers and applause as the Goblet of Fire sparked next to him.

"I believe the Goblet is almost ready," he said. They all waited in silence as the sparking became more and more frequent, until the cup was suddenly filled with green flame. Percy inhaled sharply, but not because it was pretty. It was Greek fire, one of the most dangerous substances in existence. This stuff must have been bewitched or something, though, because the next second it changed colors and started sparking again.

The flames turned blue, crackling loudly in the quiet. The entire crowd held their breath as it finally spit out a tiny, charred piece of paper. Dumbledore snatched it out of the air, peering into the mass of students as he unrolled it.

"And the champion of Durmstrang will be," he paused, reading the tiny words. "Viktor Krum!"

The hall exploded into cheers as Krum stood from the Slytherin table and walked up to the teachers, where Dumbledore directed him into the same side room that Percy had gone into on his first night there.

"No surprise about that one!" Ron shouted above the noise, clapping along with everybody else.

The room eventually quieted down, just in time for the flames in the goblet to turn blue again. The suspense hung in the air like mist, thick enough to cut with a sword. The cup crackled, and another piece of paper flew up from the fire. Dumbledore grabbed it and began to unfold it.

"The champion for Beauxbatons is," he looked up and paused. "Fleur Delacour!"

There was more cheering, especially from many of the boys in the room. "Look, Ron," said Harry. "It's her! The one from before!"

Ron blushed, but clapped loudly anyways.

The apprehension buzzing through the crowd of students as Fleur made her way up to the podium was intense. The Hogwarts champion was next.

The sparking of the goblet was met with complete silence, and when the flames turned blue, there was an audible breath from everyone in the hall. Dumbledore reached out and snatched the last piece of paper from the air.

"The Hogwarts champion is…" he said, unfolding the paper. "Cedric Diggory!"

Ron groaned, but it was covered up by the fantastically loud cheering coming from the Hufflepuff table. Most of them were on their feet, jumping up and down. Some were shrieking like they were at a concert as he got up and walked down the aisle, grinning. It continued even after he disappeared through the side door, and Dumbledore had to gesture for quiet multiple times.

"Well!" he said, beaming, as the Hufflepuffs finally sat down. "With our three champions chosen, I must ask all of you, including students from our visiting schools, to show your support for them through cheering and visual representation. You will-"

He stopped speaking, and it didn't take the rest of the crowd long to figure out what he was staring at.

The Goblet of Fire had turned blue again. In a split second, Percy locked eyes with Dumbledore, and they reached the same conclusion. It was happening. This was it. But there was nothing they could do.

The Goblet spat out sparks, and with them, a piece of paper. As if by instinct, Dumbledore grabbed it out of the air. He unfolded it without the theatrics this time, and looked out at them as he read the name.

"Harry Potter."

Instead of cheers, there was a hushed silence. Next to him, Harry paled.

"Harry Potter, please come forward," Dumbledore said. Harry stood up robotically, and people started to whisper. Ron and Hermione looked shell-shocked as he walked up towards the podium. So did he, for that matter. Dumbledore directed him to the side room with a calm look on his face, but the teachers behind him were anything but. Karkaroff and Madame Maxine were practically purple with anger, probably because their odds of winning just decreased by two. McGonagall was sitting perfectly still, struggling to gain control over her twitching eyelid. Flitwick and most of the other teachers had their jaws on the table.

This wasn't good. How was Percy supposed to protect him if he was in a deadly tournament as an underaged wizard? He couldn't just jump in whenever he felt like it to keep Harry from getting hurt, right? That would definitely be considered cheating.

Dumbledore looked only slightly troubled as he addressed the crowd. "Quite an interesting turn of events, I daresay. But it will all be sorted out-"

The Goblet was spitting flames again. They were bluer, a little darker than they'd been before. Dumbledore's shoulders sagged.

The crowd started to whisper again, louder this time. There was going to be a fifth champion?

The Goblet erupted into a two-foot tall tower of flame, surprising everyone even further. A small piece of paper fluttered down, and Percy had a horrible feeling about who's name was on it.

Dumbledore unfolded it slowly, and read the name out loud.

"Perseus Jackson."

It's like 4 in the morning, so I'm sorry for any mistakes. I can hardly see the keyboard. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it!

Okay! Now I'm finally going to bed. Hope you enjoyed, don't forget to favorite, follow, and review!

Peace out,

LadyHW

Shoutouts:

: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

surya25addanki: Happy late Christmas and New year!

Tempest218: Thanks, I'll be sure to check google translate next time or something. Let me know if you find anything else! Thanks for reading!

JustMe: So true! The gods are annoying that way. But I have a feeling that Annabeth will be joining him sooner rather than later...

akisabookworm: Yeah, my updates are pretty few and far between, unfortunately. I'll try to get better about it, but school is so unpredictable, it's like every time I finish something I get two more things!

ThunderSphinx: I'm sorry you feel that way, and I agree, Harry is a powerful wizard. I have no intention of downplaying that.

Fe0910: Thanks, I'm glad you're liking it so far!

Zara Bennle: Thanks! Happy New Year! I'm glad you like it so far!

Somebody: Okay, you seriously made my day when you wrote this. Thank you so much! I never imagined that people would actually be invested or even interested in anything I wrote.

Guest: Sorry! I hope this long chapter was enough to make up for my very long absence?